Time once again to play “In the Bag,” my version of the old desert-island game–with a twist. In this variant, the emphasis is on immediate and arbitrary preference. You can put five works of art into your bag before departing for the proverbial desert island, and you have to decide right now. No dithering–the enemy is at the front door, lasers blazing. No posturing–you have to say the first five things that pop into your head. What do you stuff in the bag?
As of this moment, here are my picks:
BOOK: Isaac Bashevis Singer, Enemies, a Love Story
MUSIC: Maurice Ravel, String Quartet in F Major
PAINTING: Jean-Baptiste-Simeon Chardin, Basket of Wild Strawberries
SONG: Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer, I Wonder What Became of Me (as sung by Joe Mooney)
FILM: William Wyler, The Heiress
Over to you.